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Garbage

PostPosted: Tue Nov 05, 2002 5:21 pm
by Q. C. Locatus Barbatus
Salvete!



I always have heard that the Romans threw their garbage out of the windows, on the street. Is this right?

There must have been serious health problems when doing so. What did the Romans do about that?



Valete,



Locatus

Garbage

PostPosted: Fri Nov 08, 2002 7:32 pm
by Quintus Pomponius Atticus
Salve Locate,

I think the image of people emptying their chamber pots, trash cans etc. on the streets stems from the Middle Ages rather than from the Roman era, although certain districts in Rome itself were known for being quite dirty (Suburra etc.).

I suspect the wealthier citizens had their waste disposal arranged privately, or isn't public waste storage a modern invention after all ??

Vale,

Q. Pomponius Atticus